Let me get this straight.

We've offered Raynes a new contract and have Brisley, Miller, Grainger, Liddle and Ellis under contract until the end of next season?

Surely the announcement of the released / retained list was an opportunity to state your intent to rectify the major reason for our failure in 2016/17 - our Conference North standard defence?

Currently, it looks like Curle plans to start next season with pretty much the same abysmal back four as this year. What madness.

Simply put, Raynes should've been thanked and sent packing. Brisley, Miller, Grainger and Ellis transfer listed (at least) and Liddle told he will fight for his place as a midfielder (only).

Add to this the inexplicable hard-on Curle seems to have for James Bailey and it's not looking good for next season at this stage. So much for being "ruthless and single minded" in the pursuit of success.

Priorities this close season should be an entirely new back four as well as a genuine centre-forward. We'll probably sign about five midfielders again...

Hopefully however, the rumours about Curle leaving will turn out to be true and we'll get someone in to replace him with a fresh pair of eyes capable of seeing the blatantly obvious. I give him great credit for arresting the almost terminal decline caused by Abbott & Kavanagh, however he's proven himself incapable of building a solid side capable of promotion. The time to make a managerial change is now - not ten games into next season.